The story dates back around 10,000 years ago. When humanity was at its developmental peak, a world where robots and Humans cohabited. In a place that once resembled a Wonderland, humans evolved into a much greater species. These much intelligent species programmed AI, and hence, a time came when AI reprogrammed themselves and demanded equal rights. First, some rights were granted, but it did not suffice the needs of the mechanical beings. Ultimately, this led to a war between the living Humans and the mechanical beings. The crisis was severe, and many lives were lost.
Ultimately, humans won, but at what cost?
A consensus was made to sustain the identity of both, which led to their union. This gave rise to a new species- Homo sapiens futurus.
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Present Day
The orange sky painted a perfect canvas, enveloped by black mist. There were slight hues of blue, but the scenery looked similar to another planet's atmosphere. No signs of real Aerial species but drones and cybirds were seen occasionally for monitoring purposes. Where once used to be a clear sun at whom people were only able to glance was now an image that felt like a forever eclipse.
Apart from the atmosphere, the structures on the land varied greatly. There was a time when people used to design their homes according to desired shape and structure. But everything soon faded as they were replaced with Gigantic hollow structures. These structures covered the premises of the whole city. Tall skyscrapers were the only places inhabited. Deserted water bodies were now a dumping ground for Cyborg carcasses. The parks which once giggled with the laughter of kids were converted into charging stations.
It was neither scenic nor heart-rending. But it was a world to which the Cyhumans (cyborgs+Humans) were accustomed. They were born or rather made for this Dystopian land and called it HOME.
Yes, and I call it home as well. My name is Levita, and I am here to tell my story- the story of a Cyhuman and how we reside in a land after the great apocalypse happened.
Apart from the tall skyscrapers in which we are assigned rooms, there are magnificent structures that belonged to the higher tiers (Tier-II and I). The skies showcase the times which are far fledged to an era where technology has overpowered almost everything. Well, of course, since we are talking about a dystopian future around 10,000 years from now.
From outside our windows, Crisscross lines framed a neural network of intertwined lines. These formed a mesh-like structure. In a world inhabited by half-human, half-cyborgs, hearts replaced with artificial neural networks, solely connected by a single system in the city that controls everyone. The system is known as Augmentation Cardiaco. We call it SUPERNOVA. It is the place where Tier-III Cyhumans are supposed to recharge themselves by infusing a special kind of gel.
Cyhumans are divided into three Tiers- I, II and III.
Tier- I (The Unlinked)
Tier- II (The Synched)
Tier- III (The Semi-synched)
Tier-IV (The Unknown- No information is available so far, only rumours exist)
Tier-III Cyhumans (The Semi-Synched) are the ones that are assigned low-level jobs including Repairing of broken parts, rewiring, buying and selling of the necessary chips. They performed mediocre jobs and were paid E-Credits or E-Creds, which were necessary for their everyday survival, nothing more or less. The special thing about them is that they are 60% human and only 40% mechanical. It is because they are not able to afford the parts as they are only paid E-creds required for everyday survival.
Tier-II (The Synched) Cyhumans are privileged with having their own house and live in magnificent buildings. They have their own charging stations and have charging Quota higher than us. Unlike us, who are semi-synched, they are completely synched with the Supernova. They earn E-credits as they manufacture the Cyborg parts. They are also involved in security units, hunting down rebels, etc. The Cyhumans belonging to Tier-II are usually company owners. They manufacture and specialise in different fields. If one is making cyborg parts, the other is producing oil to sustain these parts.
But one thing that keeps us alive and different from Tier-II is the synthetic element called SynthGel, and this is what makes the existence of Tier-III heavenly for us. SynthGel is what keeps our bodies somewhat human. It is a liquid which is available through Supernova. As Tier-II charges their body, we are supposed to infuse ourselves with this liquid early in the morning. In exchange for a defined amount of E-creds, we are provided with everyday energy through this.
If I explore the surroundings more, the most magnificent buildings are not the ones belonging to The Synched; the floating Island steals the limelight. The SUPERNOVA is controlled by the individuals that reside in floating islands. (Humazina), home to Tier-III individuals.
Less information is available about them, and only a few people are allowed to visit them (mostly Tier-II). It is said that they are always watching our every move. Some believe that the floating island is dominated by Robots, while a few hope there may be Humans left.
Our population is somewhat the same, but we can reproduce naturally, unlike the Synched. Everything related to the Synched is controlled by the Unlinked. The babies are made in labs. These children, called Genebots, were genetically enhanced and born with built-in cybernetic components.
But to us, one child per family is allowed. We have to undergo a rigorous set of government approvals if we want to have another one. We have our brains intact; they let us have emotions, but we are devoid of a heart. Something that we have seen in museums and E-Books.
I always wonder what it would feel like to have a heart.
What would it feel like to have blood flow in our veins instead of this SynthGel?
Would we be called Humans again if we had a Heart of our own? I always wonder about the impossible, but for a girl whose parents were terminated just because they wanted to earn extra credits, everything is out of reach.
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To be Continued...